Blanco to Mexico?

With the Chicago Fire preparing for the start of its MLS playoff campaign this weekend, midfield star Cauhtemoc Blanco says he has agreed to a contract with Mexican second-division club Veracruz. It's complicated, though.

After the playoffs, he is set to join Veracruz in January and play through the rest of the Mexican season before preparing for the World Cup with the national team.

However, the Fire and Blanco continue to discuss a deal for him to return to MLS after the Cup. Blanco's contract with the Fire expires this year. His pact with Veracruz includes an opt-out clause that would allow him to play elsewhere later next year.

"We respect his desire to continue playing in Mexico during the MLS offseason and continue preparing for the 2010 World Cup," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said. "We will continue our dialogue with his agent regarding Blanco playing for the Fire in the second half of the 2010 season and beyond."

What do you make of this news? Do you think it will impact the Fire in the playoffs? And if he's gone for good, will you miss him?

It' no different from what Becks will be doing with Milan, keeping in form and playing to stay ready for the WC. Whether or not he comes back after the WC, well, we'll see. He's a marquee player, but Chicago has one of those in McBride, so their need is not as desperate, and with the cap space his leaving opens up, they could fill some of the holes they will develop with planned (Rolfe) or possible off-season departures, so it may be a blessing that he's leaving of his own accord rather than being forced out. Not that the readers of this blog know anything about MLS teams possibly having to force out older, established players to clear cap space.......

I agree with the person (persons?) who say they are conflicted. I think he is great for our league, but his petty antics and history vs the US National Team make me hate him. I'm guessing I'm not alone due to every soccer fan potentially having this conflict of club hero vs national team villain.

My guess is he is heading to the 2nd division because he can secure all the playing time he needs to prepare for the WC. He'll be back next year, probably in chicago, but I can think of a few teams who would gladly take him.

Bigger Picture - This is not good for the MLS, this is the second player to go elsewhere to prepare for the World Cup. The league is never going to attract top-level international talent with this schedule or stigma of unworthiness. It will continue to be the senior tour for the euro leagues.